Mechanical locking of floor panels with vertical snap folding

ABSTRACT

Floor panels are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system on long and short edges allowing installation with vertical snap folding that could be accomplished automatically without tools and where the short edge locking system has a tongue made in one piece with the panel.

PRIORITY

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/660,538, filed Oct. 25, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/266,762, filed Nov. 7, 2008, and claims the benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of U.S. Application No. 60/986,077, filed on 7 Nov. 2007. The entire contents of each of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/660,538, U.S. application Ser. No. 12/266,762, and U.S. Application No. 60/986,077 are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

AREA OF INVENTION

The invention generally relates to the field of floor panels with mechanical locking systems, which could be locked by a vertical snap folding. The invention provides new improved locking systems, floor panels with such locking systems and an installation method to connect such panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In particular, yet not restrictive manner, the invention concerns a mechanical locking system for rectangular floor panels with long and short edges. It should be emphasized that long and short edges are only used to simplify the description. The panels could also be square. However, the invention is as well applicable to building panels in general. More particularly the invention relates to the type of mechanically locking systems, which allow that all four edges of a panel could be locked to other panels by an angling action. The long and short edges have a mechanical locking system, which could be locked horizontally with a strip and a locking element on one edge that cooperates with a locking groove in another edge and vertically with a tongue in one of the edges that cooperates with a tongue groove in the other adjacent edge. The long edges could be locked with angling and the short edges with a combined vertical and horizontal snap action. The short edges locking system is preferably formed in one piece of a wood fibre or a plant fibre based material or a plastic material that is a part of the panel core. The locking system could also be formed of a preferably separate wood fibre based material, which is connected to the panel, preferably as an edge section, and glued to an upper and lower layer of the floor panel and formed by machining.

Floor panels with locking systems of this kind are described in for example WO 01/02669 (Akzenta), WO 01/51732, (Hulsta-Werke), WO 01/75247 (Perstorp Flooring), WO 01/77461 (Välinge) and WO 2001/088306 (Kronospan). The floor panels have a locking system comprising a locking element cooperating with a locking groove, for horizontal locking, and a very small tongue, which cooperates with a tongue groove, for vertical locking. The locking systems are designed such that fibres could be compressed and/or the strip could bend downwards during connection of two adjacent edges. Such locking system could be used to connect two adjacent short edges vertically and horizontally by a combined vertical and horizontal displacement. One edge could be pressed downwards vertically until the tip of the small tongue reaches the opening of the tongue groove. The small tongue is thereafter automatically pushed mainly horizontally into the tongue groove by the compressed fibres and/or by the strip and the locking element that snaps and springs back towards its initial position.

This type of vertical and horizontal snapping of the short edges is described as a locking system that could be combined with a long edges locking system that could be connected by angling. Long edge locking systems are shown which are mainly designed to lock the long edges such that they form a tight fit. Such long edge locking systems were originally used in combination with a horizontal snap system on the short edges. They were designed such that they could be displaced horizontally in order to lock the short edges with a horizontal snap action. The snapping is made with a hammer and a tapping block.

According to the known technology, a whole floor is intended to be installed with an angling action only where a long edge of a new “folding panel” is connected with angling to a first panel in a first row and where a short edge of this folding panel is connected with the same angling action by a vertical snap to a short edge of a second panel in a second row.

Such known locking systems, hereafter referred to as “vertical snap folding” systems have however not been successful on the market since they suffer from several major disadvantages as described below.

Displacement Friction

A vertical snap folding of this type requires a displacement of the folding panel along its long edge during the final stage of the folding action when the folding panel is angled down to the sub floor and when the short edges are connected by a combined vertical and horizontal snap action which is required to bring the small tongue into the tongue groove. There is a risk that the short edge locking system will not lock automatically since it is not able to overcome the friction between the long edges and to pull together the panels to the final locked position. The friction between the long edges is high mainly due to the geometry of the locking systems but also due to production tolerances, swelling, shrinking and bending of the panels. A gap between the short edges will in most cases remain after the folding and the panels must be displaced horizontally with a hammer and a tapping block along the locked long edges in order to finally lock the short edges. This make installation complicated and there is a great risk that the locking system could be damaged. It is not possible to use just a lose connection on the long side with low friction that could compensate for the swelling and bending since this will give a low quality locking system with for example open gaps and the locking system will not be able to prevent moisture and dirt to penetrate into the joint.

Small Tongue

The design of the short edge locking system is such that a tip of the tongue that is inserted into the tongue groove is made very small in order to allow vertical snapping without damaging parts of the locking system during the vertical pressing of the short edges. The contact surfaces between the upper part of the tongue and the tongue groove are therefore made very small and they are generally rounded or inclined in order to allow the insertion of the tongue into the groove. The vertical locking it not reliable and strong enough and an undesired unlocking could occur during swelling and shrinking of the installed floor or when a heavy load is applied on the floor surface.

Flexibility and Guiding

The design of the strip and the locking element is such that the flexibility of the strip and the vertical guiding of the locking element into the locking groove are not sufficient to guarantee a reliable and easy locking. The edges must be knocked together with a hammer and a tapping block or pressed very hard vertically against each other. Parts of the locking system are often damaged during such installations.

The inventor has discovered that such installation problems often occur when the panels are thin, for example 6-9 mm and have a width of more than 100 mm, for example 100-300 mm. Such panels are very flexible and the long edges are not able to support the middle parts of the short edges and keep them in a vertically locked position. The small tongue could snap out vertically when people walk on the floor. The vertical snap resistance during installation is considerable. Some panels are especially difficult to handle for example long panels, panels with compact locking systems or with locking systems locked with pre tension and panels comprising core materials with rough fibre structures. All such panels could be very difficult to displace in locked position along the long edges and they are in principle not possible to lock with a vertical snap action without major problems.

In order to overcome these problems locking systems have been developed that do not require a displacement of a panel during vertical locking. Such displacement is replaced by a displacement of a flexible tongue. Such flexible tongue locking systems, for example as described in WO 2006/043893 (Välinge), comprise a separate flexible tongue with a protruding part that could be displaced horizontally during locking. A panel with a flexible and displaceable tongue is very easy to lock vertically without the use of a hammer and a tapping block and solves all the above-mentioned problems. The disadvantage of such systems is that a separate tongue has to be produced and inserted into a panel edge during production.

A vertical snap folding system which requires a displacement of a panel during the final stage of the locking could however be competitive against the flexible tongue systems if the above mentioned disadvantages could be eliminated since it is very easy and cost efficient to produce. The whole locking system could be formed in one piece with the core of the panel and no separate materials have to be produced with special tools and inserted into the short edge.

The invention aims to solve installation problems in flooring which is intended to be installed with a vertical snap folding system having a short edge locking system with a tongue formed in one piece with the panel core and where the short edge locking system requires a horizontal displacement of a panel that is locked with its long edge to an adjacent panel.

Definition of Some Terms

In the following text, the visible surface of the installed floor panel is called “front face”, while the opposite side of the floor panel, facing the sub floor, is called “rear face”. The edge between the front and rear face is called “joint edge”. By “horizontal plane” is meant a plane, which extends parallel to the outer part of the surface layer. Immediately juxtaposed upper parts of two adjacent joint edges of two joined floor panels together define a “vertical plane” perpendicular to the horizontal plane. By “horizontally” is meant parallel to the horizontal plane and by “vertically” is meant parallel to the vertical plane. By “up” is meant towards the front face and by “down” towards the rear face.

By “joint” or “locking system” are meant co acting connecting means, which connect the floor panels vertically and/or horizontally. By “mechanical locking system” is meant that joining can take place without glue. Mechanical locking systems can in many cases also be combined with gluing. By formed “in one piece” with the panel means formed by machining of the panel core or by machining of a material that is fixed connected to the panel. By “integrated with” means formed in one piece with the panel or factory connected to the panel.

By “angling” is meant a connection that occurs by a turning motion, during which an angular change occurs between two parts that are being connected, or disconnected. When angling relates to connection of two floor panels, the angular motion takes place with the upper parts of joint edges at least partly being in contact with each other, during at least part of the motion.

By an “angling locking system” is meant a mechanical locking system which could be connected vertically and horizontally with angling comprising a tongue and a grove that locks two adjacent edges in a vertical direction and a locking strip with a locking element in one edge of a panel called “strip panel” that cooperates with a locking groove on another edge of a panel called “grove panel” and locks the edges in a horizontal direction. The locking element and the locking groove have generally rounded guiding surfaces that guide the locking element into the locking groove and locking surfaces that locks and prevents horizontal separation between the edges.

By “vertical snap folding” is meant a connection of three panels where the long edges of a first and second panel are in a connected state with at least a part of their locking systems in contact and where an angling action of a long edge of a new panel, referred to as the “folding panel”, automatically and without the use of tool such as a hammer and a tapping block, connects a long edge of the folding panel to a long edge of the first panel and a short edge of the folding panel to a short edge of the second panel. The short edges of the panels are designed such that they could not be folded together along a vertical plane with their top edges in contact since they are spaced apart during folding by a part of the vertical locking system, for example a tongue, which is not possible to compress or displace during locking in order to bring the top edges into contact. The locking of the short edges is therefore a type of a double snap action where a vertical and horizontal displacement is required in order to accomplish the locking. The first vertical folding motion of the short edges takes place gradually from one short edge part to the other as scissors when the folding panel is angled down to the sub floor. The second motion is an essentially horizontal displacement of the whole folding panel during the final stage of the folding motion.

With “installation angle” is meant the generally used angel between two panels which are in the initial stage of an angling installation when one panel is in an upwardly angled position and pressed with its upper edge against the upper edge of another panel laying flat on the sub floor. The installation angle is generally about 25 degrees. A part of the tongue is in the tongue groove and the upper part of the locking element has not entered the lover part of the locking groove.

With “displacement angle” is meant an angle between two floor panels during angling when a part of the tongue has entered a tongue groove and upper part of the locking element has entered a locking groove and prevents a horizontal separation of the edges and when there is sufficient space, gaps or plays between parts of the locking systems to allow easy displacement of the long edges along the adjacent edges.

With “locking angle” is meant the angle of the long edges when they are completely or almost completely locked with their locking surfaces is contact. The locking angle is in most cases zero and the panels are laying flat on the sub floor with their front faces parallel to the horizontal plane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention aim at a set of floor panels or a floating flooring with a mechanical locking system, which will improve installation of floor panels installed with vertical snap folding.

The invention is based on a first basic understanding that the problems with a vertical snap folding installation are mainly related to the locking system at the long edges and not to the short edges. All known angling locking systems, especially the majority that comprises a strip with a locking element in one edge that cooperates with a locking groove in an adjacent edge, are very easy to displace along the joint when the floor panels are in an initial angled position in relation to each other. The friction increases considerably at a low angle, when the floor panels are almost in a locked position. This means that the friction between the long edges is at its maximum level when the long edges must be displaced in order to allow the short edges to be locked to each other with the vertical and horizontal snapping action. The long edge friction makes installation difficult and unreliable and there is a considerable risk that the locking system on the short edge will be damaged.

The invention is based on a second understanding that the combined function of the long edge locking system and the short edge locking system is essential in a floor, which is designed to be installed with vertical snap folding. Long and short edge locking systems should be adapted to each other in order to provide a simple, easy and reliable installation. The long edges must be easy to displace mainly during locking. However, it is in fact an advantage in the installed floor that they are not to lose since the whole row could slide against an adjacent row and dirt could penetrate into the joint. The short edge locking system should be very flexible in order to allow installation with a low pressing force such that locking could be made without a hammer and a tapping block. This flexibility must however be combined with two other features where flexibility is a disadvantage. The locking system should give a strong lock and prevent separation of the edges when the floating floor shrinks for example during the winter period. The short edge locking system and should also be able to overcome the friction on the long edges and to pull the panels automatically together during the final stage of the vertical snap action.

The invention is based on a third understanding that the vertical locking between the tongue and the tongue groove on the short edge must be improved in order to guarantee a reliable locking function especially in thin and wide floor panels. The short edge locking system must be such that it allows a tongue with larger and more horizontal contact surfaces to be connected into a tongue groove and preferably also with a lower pressing force such that the installation could be made with a hand pressure only and without tools.

A first objective of embodiments of the invention is to solve the friction problem caused by the displacement of the long edges during installation with a vertical snap folding locking system.

A second objective of embodiments of the invention is to provide a floor panel with long and short edge locking systems that could be locked with a vertical snap folding and with a lower vertical pressing force than the known systems.

The invention provides for new embodiments of locking systems at long and short edges according to different aspects offering respective advantages. The invention provides embodiments of a new method to install floor panels with vertical snap action. Useful areas for the invention are building panels such as wall panels, ceilings and especially floor panels of any shape and material e.g. laminate; especially panels with surface materials contain thermosetting resins, wood, HDF, veneer, paint, resilient plastic materials, plastic or textile fibres, linoleum, Cork and similar and core materials such as wood, HDF, particle board, plywood and similar materials.

Embodiments of the invention comprise according a first aspect of the first objective a set of essentially identical floor panels each comprising long and short edges provided with a mechanical locking system comprising first and second connectors integrated with the floor panels, and wherein immediately juxtaposed upper parts of two adjacent joint edges of two joined floor panels together define a vertical plane perpendicular to the main plane of the panels. The first connector comprises a locking strip with an upwardly directed locking element, at a first edge of a floor panel, configured to cooperate with a downwardly open locking groove at an adjacent second edge of another floor panel for connecting the adjacent edges in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical plane. The second connector comprises a tongue, either at the first or at the second edge, extending horizontally perpendicular to the vertical plane, configured to cooperate with a horizontally open tongue groove at the other of said first or second edge for connecting the adjacent edges in a vertical direction parallel to the vertical plane. The connectors at the long edges are configured to be locked with angling and the connectors at the short edge are configured to be locked with vertical snap folding, whereby a long edge of a new panel in a second row is configured to be connected to a long edge of a first panel in a first row by angling, whereby a second short edge of the new panel and a first short edge of a second panel in the second row are configured to be connected with the same angling motion. The tongue at one of the short edges is formed in one piece with the panel and protrudes from a substantially vertical upper surface at said one short edge. The locking strip at the short edges is bendable, to obtain a resilient bending during the vertical snap folding action, which bending facilitates the assembling of the tongue and the tongue groove. The first and the second connector at the long edges are configured to obtain a minimum of friction facilitating a displacement, by a spring back force from the bending of the short edge locking strip, of the new panel in the horizontal direction along the long edge during the vertical snap folding action.

The first aspect offers the advantage that the locking takes place automatically and that no side pressure has to be applied in order to lock the panels. The locking system on the short edge with its bendable strip is capable to overcome the friction between the long edges and to pull together the edges automatically. Only an angling action is sufficient to lock the floor panels and such locking could be made with a hand pressure and without tools

Embodiments of the invention comprise according a second aspect of the first objective an installation method to eliminate displacement friction between long edges and to connect rectangular floor panels vertically and horizontally with vertical snap folding vertically and horizontally along long and short edges.

Rectangular floor panels are provided with mechanically locking systems at the long and the short edges. The short edges comprise a vertical snap folding system and the long edges an angling locking system. The method comprises the steps of:

-   -   a) laying a first panel flat on a sub floor.     -   b) bringing a second panel in an angled position with its long         edge in contact with a long edge of the first panel.     -   c) bringing a long edge of a new panel in an angled position and         in contact with an upper part of a long edge of the first panel,         whereby the new panel has a higher angle against the sub floor         than the second panel,     -   d) bringing a short edge of the new panel in contact with a         short edge of the second panel,     -   e) pressing and displacing the short edge of the new panel         downward and horizontally along the long edge towards the short         edge section of the second panel and thereby connecting the         edges of the first and the second panels to each other in an         essentially common plane with a vertical snap folding,     -   f) angling the new and the second panel downward towards the sub         floor and thereby finally connecting the first, second and third         panel to each other in a common plane with vertical snap         folding.

The second aspect offer the advantages that the connection of the short edges with vertical snap folding is made when the panels are in an angled position and when the long edges are easy to displace. The installation could be made very easy and with a limited friction force, even in the case that the panels are locked with a tight fit and/or high friction between the long edges when they are finally angled down to the floor. A whole row could be connected with a vertical snap folding in an angled position and the whole row could thereafter be angled down. A row could also be folded down partly and gradually during installation if the panels are thin and flexible. A very low angle of for example only a few degrees could be sufficient to bring the long edges in a position where the friction is considerably lower than in an locking angle when the panels are laying on the sub floor connected in a common plane.

Embodiments of the invention comprise according a first aspect of the second objective a set of essentially identical floor panels each comprising long and short edges provided with a mechanical locking system comprising first and second connectors integrated with the floor panels. Immediately juxtaposed upper parts of two adjacent joint edges of two joined floor panels together define a vertical plane perpendicular to the main plane of the panels. The first connector comprises a locking strip with an upwardly directed locking element, at a first edge of a floor panel, configured to cooperate with a downwardly open locking groove at an adjacent second edge of another floor panel for connecting the adjacent edges horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the vertical plane. The second connector comprises a tongue, either at the first or the second edge, extending horizontally perpendicular to vertical plane, configured to cooperate with a horizontally open tongue groove, at the other of said first or second edge, for connecting the adjacent edges in vertical direction parallel to the vertical plane. The connectors at the long edges are configured to be locked with angling and the connectors at the short edge are configured to be locked with vertical snap folding. The tongue at one of the short edges is formed in one piece with the panel and configured to protrude from a substantially vertical upper surface at the short edge with the tongue. The mechanical locking system at the long edges is configured such that a new panel is displaceable vertically substantially along the vertical plane of a first panel and relative the first panel when the new floor panel is in an angled position in relation to the first floor panel and with the tongue within the tongue groove and the upper part of the locking element within the locking groove.

This first aspect of the second objective offers the advantages the short edge of the new panel could move vertically in an installation angle. This means that the short edge of this new panel could be pressed down towards a second panel that also is in an installation angle and that such pressing could be made with the short edges of the new and second floor panels in a substantial parallel position. This embodiment of the invention allows that vertical snap folding of the short edges could be made easier with a lower pressing force than with the present known technology. No tools such as a hammer and a tapping block are needed and easy installation could be combined with a strong vertical and horizontal locking.

Embodiments of the invention comprise according a second aspect of the second objective a set of essentially identical floor panels each comprising long and short edges. The short edges are provided with a mechanical locking system comprising first and second connectors integrated with the floor panels. The first connector comprises a locking strip with an upwardly directed locking element, at a first short edge of a floor panel, configured to cooperate with a downwardly open locking groove at an adjacent second short edge of another floor panel for connecting the adjacent edges horizontally. The second connector comprises a tongue, either at the first or the second short edge, extending horizontally, configured to cooperate with a horizontally open tongue groove, at the other of said first or second short edges, for connecting the adjacent edges in vertical direction configured to be locked with a vertical motion. The tongue at one of the short edges is formed in one piece with the panel and configured to protrude from a substantially vertical upper surface at the short edge with the tongue. An upper surface of the tongue is substantially parallel to a locking surface of the locking groove. The angle of the upper surface of the tongue and the locking surface of the locking groove against the horizontal plane is more than about 50 degrees. The short edge with the tongue groove is provided with a second tongue above the tongue groove, which tongue protrudes horizontally.

This second aspect of the second objective offers the advantages that the locking system on the short edges, comprising two tongues could be locked easier and without any sharp surface portions in contact with the tongue during the folding. Only the two tongues, which both could have rather smooth surfaces, will be in contact with each other during folding. A lower pressing force than with the present known technology could be used.

All references to “a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc.]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings show exemplary embodiments, to which the claimed invention is not limited.

FIGS. 1 a-c show a short edge locking system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 2 a-b show a long edge locking system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 3 a-c show installation of floor panels according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 4 a-c show installation of short edges with a combined vertical and horizontal snap action according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 5 a-d show installation of floor panels according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 a-b shows the function of the long and short edges during installation with vertical snap folding according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 a-b shows how a short edge strip could be formed according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8 a-g show embodiments of locking systems according to the invention.

FIG. 9 a-d show embodiments of locking systems according to the invention.

FIG. 10 a-c show embodiments of long and short side locking systems according to the invention.

FIG. 11 a-d show embodiments of locking systems according to the invention where short sides are locked with long sides.

FIG. 12 a-c show embodiments of short side locking systems according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 a shows a locking system that could be used to lock adjacent edges of essentially identical panels, comprising a core 40, a surface layer 41 and a balancing layer 42, vertically and horizontally and that could be used to install panels with a vertical snap folding action. The locking system has a strip 6 extending from a vertical plane VP with an upwardly extending locking element 8 in a first panel edge 4 a and a downwardly open locking groove 14 in a second adjacent panel edge 4 b. The locking element 8 cooperates with the locking groove 14 and locks the adjacent edges 4 a, 4 b in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical plane VP and parallel to a horizontal plane HP. The locking system has a tongue 10 in the second panel edge 4 b, the folding panel, extending from the vertical plane VP and a tongue groove 9 in the first panel edge, the strip panel, for vertical locking of the adjacent edges. The strip 6, locking element 8, the locking groove 14, the tongue 10 and the tongue groove 9 are formed in one piece with the panel. The locking element has a locking surface 11 and an upper guiding surface 15 in its upper part adjacent to the locking surface 11. The locking surface 11 is preferably essentially planner and extends upwardly to a guiding surface 15 which could be inclined or rounded. The upper guiding surface 15 comprises parts that are less inclined against the horizontal plane HP than the locking surface 11. The locking groove 14 has a groove locking surface 12 that cooperates with the locking element locking surface 11 and prevents essential separation of the adjacent edges in the horizontal direction. The locking groove has also a lower guiding surface 16 at its lower part adjacent to the groove locking surface 12 that comprises parts that are less inclined against the horizontal plane than the locking surface 12. The tongue 10 has upper 33 and lower 36 contact surfaces that cooperate with adjacent upper 34 and lower 35 contact surfaces of the tongue groove 9 and lock the adjacent edges in the vertical direction. The strip 6 comprises three parts, an inner groove part P1 located between the inner part of the tongue groove 9 and the vertical plane VP, an outer locking part P3 located between the outer part of the strip 6 and a vertical locking plane VPL comprising the locking surfaces 11,12, and an intermediate flexible part P2 located between the inner groove part P1 and the outer locking part P3. The three parts P1 +P2+P3 should preferably be larger than the floor thickness T. The flexibility will improve if P1+P2 are larger than the floor thickness. A lower part 6a of the strip 6, extending at least over a part of the intermediate part P2 and preferably also over the whole outer locking part P3 is located in a plane which is above the rear face of the panel. Such a strip with an essentially upwardly extending lower side 6 a could be made very flexible and the strip 6 could be bent downwards during the vertical snap folding action without contact with the sub floor or an underlay 2 laying on the sub floor. The horizontal locking will be more reliable if at least a part of the balancing layer 42 within the intermediate flexible part P2 is removed from the lower part of the strip 6. The balancing layer could cause unpredictable strip bending after machining of the locking system and when humidity changes. An essential feature of this locking system is that the tongue 10 preferably extends from the vertical plane VP over a tongue distance TD, which is at least 0.1 times the floor thickness T or about at least 0.8 mm. This guarantees a reliable vertical locking that will not be unlocked after installation when the panels swell and shrink and are subject to heavy load on the surface. It is preferred that the upper contact surfaces are essentially planner and parallel to the horizontal plane. With essentially planer is meant an angle to the horizontal plane of about 0-10 degrees and in the case that the surface has a curved shape, a tangent line that does not exceed about 10 degrees. Upper contact surfaces that are completely planer (about +−3 degrees) or almost planer (about +−5 degrees) are even more preferable since they give a stronger locking and the production tolerances are easier to handle. Of course higher angles could also be used for example even up to about 45 degrees and more, provided that the locking surfaces 11,12 have an locking angle A which preferably is higher, preferably at least about 10-30 degrees higher, than the angle of the upper contact surfaces 33,34. Embodiments where the locking surface has a lower angle than the upper contact surfaces are not excluded. Parts of the locking element and the locking groove extends preferably over a locking distance LD, defined as the horizontal extension of the guiding surfaces 15,16 and the locking surfaces 11, 12, that is equal or larger than the tongue distance TD. The guiding surfaces 15,16 comprises all parts of the upper part of locking element 8 and the lower part of the locking groove 14 that are inclined against the horizontal plane HP of at least about 25 degrees. Lower angles will in most cases not give a sufficient guiding function. This design ensures that the guiding surfaces 15,16 will grip behind each other and press the locking strip downwards during an initial stage of the locking action and then to pull the tongue 10 into the tongue groove 9 during the final stage of the locking when the locking element 8 is guided and snapped vertically into the locking grove 14. Such a locking system could have a considerable pulling force that automatically could overcome the friction between the long edges and displace the panels horizontally into a final locked position. It is preferred the guiding surfaces are inclined at least about 25 degrees against the horizontal plane but less than about 60 degrees. All angles are defined as the locking angel A in FIG. 1 a. An especially preferred embodiment is characterized in that the locking surfaces and the guiding surfaces are essentially planner and that the locking surfaces have an angle of about 50 to 90 degrees and the guiding surfaces an angle of about 30-50 degrees. The locking surface could also have an angle exceeding 90 degrees. The inner groove part P1 of the shown embodiment is preferably larger than two times the tongue distance TD. Such a design will improve the locking function since the strip and also the upper part 9 a of the locking groove will be more flexible. The upper part 9 a could be slightly bended upwards during locking when the tongue enters the tongue groove.

FIG. 1 b show the position of the panels 4 a, 4 b during the vertical snap folding when the guiding surfaces 15,16 are in contact with each other. A further vertical motion V of the folding panel 4 b will press and bend the strip 6 downwards as shown in FIG. 1 c and the tongue 10 inwards towards the adjacent edge until the upper part of the tongue 10 reaches the opening of the tongue groove 9. The guiding surfaces will than press the tongue 10 into the tongue groove 9 and the new panel will be displaced horizontally H essentially over a distance which is equal to the tongue distance TD. The horizontal displacement might be slightly smaller than the tongue distance TD due to fibre compression between parts of the locking system.

FIG. 2 a shows a long edge locking system that could be locked with angling. The adjacent edges 1″ and 1′ are in a displacement angle, which in the shown embodiment is about 5-8 degrees. A displacement angle could be between about 1 and 20 degrees or even larger depending of the design of the locking system. A part of the tongue 10 has entered the tongue groove and prevents vertical separation. An upper part of the locking element 8, in this embodiment the guiding surface 15, has entered a lower part of the locking groove 14, in this embodiment the part that forms the guiding surface 16, and prevents a horizontal separation of the edges 1″, 1′. The figure shows that there is sufficient space, gaps or plays between parts of the locking systems for example between the parts that locks horizontally such as the upper edges 31, 32 and/or the locking element 8 and the locking groove 14, and the parts that locks vertically such as the upper and/or the lower parts of the tongue 10 and the tongue groove 9. This allows easy displacement of the adjacent long edges along the joint in an up angled position. Most known locking systems are easy to displace in an up angled position and many are also possible to adjust such that panels with such systems could be easy to displace in an displacement angle when they are angled the edges are partly locked vertically and horizontally.

FIG. 2 b shows that a locking system also could be easy to displace in a locking angle when the edges are completely in a final locked position. The adjacent operative contact surfaces between the upper parts of the joint edges 31,32, the upper and lower tongue and tongue grove contact surfaces 33,34,35,36 and the locking surfaces 11,12 have been reduced to a minimum and there are spaces or plays between all other non-operative surfaces. This embodiment is characterized in that all operative surfaces that in a locked position are in contact with each other are such that they extend over a total length, which is less than the floor thickness, preferably about 0.4-0.6 times the floor thickness T. Such a locking system will be easy to displace especially if there is a small play between the locking surfaces when the top edges are pushed against each other. Such a play could be very small and it is sufficient that it allows displacement. It could also be in the magnitude of 0-0.01 mm only. It will reduce the friction and will be visible as a small gap of some 0.01 mm when the panels are pulled away from each other with a force equal to ⅓ of the maximum locking force when panels are unlocked from each other. It could be mentioned as a non-limiting example that a strong vertical and horizontal locking could be obtained with operative contact surfaces that are very small especially in HDF material. A locking system could have a design with a cross section where the locking surfaces (12,12) or upper contact surfaces (31,32) could be for example only 0.3 mm. Upper and lower contact surfaces could for example have a horizontal extension of about 0.5 mm. The total length of the operative surfaces could be reduced to about 3.2 mm in a laminate floor with a thickness of 8 mm.

FIGS. 3 a-3 c show locking of three panels with a vertical snap folding. The long edge 5 b of the panels 1, 1′ is shown as cut of part in order to simplify the description of the short edge locking system. This edge of a full size panel has of course a strip with a locking element. FIG. 3 a show that a long edge 5 b of a first panel 1″ in a first row R1 is locked to an adjacent long edge of second panel 1 in a second row R2. A new panel 1′ in the second row is locked by angling with its long edge 5 a to the long edge 5 b of the first panel 1″. FIG. 3 a shows the position of the new folding panel 1, when an inner part IP of the short edge locking strip 6 is partly bended downwards. The locking systems on the long 5 a, 5 b and short edges 4 a, 4 b are designed such that the panels will automatically slide in a locked position when a vertical pressure force PF will be applied on the short edge 4 b of the fold panel 1′. It is a major advantage if such a locking could be made without the use of tools such as a hammer and a tapping block that is commonly used to connect floor panels with horizontal snapping. The pressure could be as low as about 100 N and even lower. The locking systems could also be designed to lock automatically with a pressure force PF of for example about 200 N. The floor panels could then be installed with a one hand pressure only. If a pressure force of about 400 N is required, generally two hands should be used to press down the edge. A pressure force of more than about 600 N is not appropriate since this requires that the installer has to press very hard or to walk on the edge or to hammer the panels together. A locking system that could be locked automatically with a pressure force on the short edge of 100-400 N is ideal since this gives an easy installation with a strong locking and a pulling force that is able to overcome a considerable friction between the long edges.

The function of the short edge locking system, locking the adjacent edges 4 a and 4 b of the second 1 and the new 1′panels, will now be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 a-4 c that show a cross section A-A at an inner part close to the locked long edge 5 a, an outer cross section C-C close to the free long edge and a middle cross section B-B located between the inner and outer sections.

FIG. 4 a show that the inner part A-A is almost in lowest position and the strip 6 is bent to its maximum bending position. FIG. 4 b show that the middle section B-B is in a position where parts of the locking element 8 and the locking groove 14 are in contact, in this embodiment the guiding surfaces 15, 16. FIG. 4 c show that the locking of the outer part C-C has not started yet and the locking element 8 is not in contact with the locking groove 14. This means that the edge 4 b cannot be displaced horizontally until the whole panel edge has been brought into an essentially horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 4 a, and the friction between the long edges 5 a,5 b is on its maximum level. This position, with a gap G between top edges, is shown in FIG. 3 b. A vertical snap folding is a type of locking where the edge is displaced gradually vertically from one inner part to an outer part. The strip 6 must therefore be designed such that it can both bend downwards vertically but also that it could be twisted vertically from one edge part to the other along the joint during the vertical locking motion. Such a design is shown in FIG. 1 a-1 c. FIG. 3 c shows the second 1 and the new 1′ panels in a locked position after the horizontal displacement D, which occurs when the strip 6 snaps back toward its initial position. Such a snap pull back force must exceed the friction resistance between the long edges. The locking system between long edges 5 a,5 b must be designed such that it allows a displacement in a locking angle when the panels are locked in the same plane. The panels are according to this embodiment of the invention configured such that the locking system on the short edges, for example a locking system as show in FIG. 1, and a locking system on the long edges, for example a locking system as shown in FIG. 2 b, are designed such that a pullback force on the short edges exceeds the friction between the long edges and allow automatically a locking with a vertical snap action and without any side pressure.

FIGS. 5 a-5 d show an installation method according to the invention. The same vertical snap folding motion as shown in FIGS. 3 a-3 c takes place with a vertical displacement and twisting of the strip 6 until the second 1 and new 1′panels are essentially in the same plane as shown in FIG. 5 b. The panels are thereafter displaced horizontally by the horizontal pulling force between the locking element 8 and the locking groove 14 caused by the strip 6 that snaps back towards the initial position as shown in FIG. 5 c. This horizontal displacement D takes place when the second and the new panels are angled against each other at least in an installation angle or preferably in a displacement angle where the friction between the long edges is lower than in a locking angle when the panels are locked in an essentially common plane. The second 1 and the new panel 1′ are thereafter angled down to the sub floor as shown in FIG. 5 d. The installation with this vertical snap folding method in angled position is facilitated if for example a wedge 40 or a similar device is used that keeps the panels in for example a displacement angle during the vertical snap folding. FIG. 5 d shows that the friction between the long edges could also be reduced if the panels are twisted during installation. Especially thin laminate floorings could be installed with such twisting of the new pane 1. The free short edge 50 has during the vertical snap folding action a higher angle than the locked edge 4 b. The twisting could be done with or without a wedge. The panels are according to this embodiment of the invention configured such that the locking system on the short edges, for example a locking system as show in FIG. 1, and a locking system on the long edges, for example a locking system as shown in FIG. 2 a, are designed such that a pullback force on the short edges exceeds the friction between the long edges and allows a locking automatically with a vertical snap action when the panels are in a displacement angle. It is obvious that when the first two panels in a first row are installed, the locking could take place with a displacement of the strip panel, the folding panel or both panels and a twisting of any edge section could take place.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show vertical snap folding and the vertical pressure forces created by the twisting of the strip 6 on the short edge. FIG. 6 a shows a position where the locking element 8 and the locking groove of a second 1 and a new 1′ panel, at an inner section A-A, similar to FIG. 4 a, are in an initial contact angle. Further angling, as shown in FIG. 6 b, will create a vertical pressure force which will press the upper contact surfaces 33,34 towards each other and the friction at a part of the long edges close to the short edges will increase in a locking angle and in a displacement angle. The short edges of especially thin panels could be curved and this prevents an easy installation since the installer has to press on several parts of the short edge during installation. In thicker or narrow panels a centre pressure at a middle section B-B could be sufficient.

FIGS. 7 a-7 b show how such a vertical strip pressure could be reduced. The locking element could be removed at an edge section ES of the strip 6 close the long edge 5 a which comprises the tongue 10. FIG. 7 b show that vertical pressure could be reduced and twisting of the strip 6 could be facilitated if parts 42 of the strip 6 will be removed such that the horizontal extension of the strip will wary along the joint.

FIG. 8 a show that a short edge locking system could for example have two tongues 10,10′ and two tongue grooves 9, 9′ and that the tongue 10 or the tongue groove 9 could be located on the strip panel 4 a or on the fold panel 4 b. A double tongue system offers the advantage that no part of the locking system needs to be in contact with the upper sharp edge 17 of the surface, as can be seen in FIG. 4 c, during the folding. This is an advantage especially in laminate floorings with a sharp laminate edge and a core of HDF. Such core is much softer than the laminate surface and could be partly compressed during folding.

FIGS. 8 b and 8 c show that a long edge angling system according to the invention could also be formed as a tongue lock where a tongue 10 with a locking element 8 a at its upper part locks into a groove 9 which has upper and lower lips 6 a, 6 b and an undercut part 14 a cooperating with the locking element 8 a.

FIGS. 8 d and 8 e show that the locking system shown in FIG. 1 could be locked with angling and also with a combined horizontal and vertical snap action, provided that the tongue 10, the tongue grove 9 and the locking element 8 are adjusted according to for example FIG. 8 e. Such locking systems could be used on long and short edges. They could be identical or of a similar type where the geometries have been adapted to specific requirements long and short edges. This means that the invention according to the first and the third principles could also be used to connect floor panels long edge to short edge with vertical snap folding in for example a diamond pattern, as shown in FIG. 8 f, or in a herringbone pattern where mirror inverted locking systems with A and B boards could be used as described in WO 03/025307 and shown in FIG. 8 g. FIG. 8 f show that a short edge of a second panel 1 is locked for example with angling, vertical snapping or horizontal snapping to a long edge of a first panel 1″. A long edge of new panel 1′ is locked with angling to the long edge of the second panel 1 and a short edge of the new panel 1′ is locked with vertical snap folding to the first panel 1″. FIG. 8 g shows a first A-type panel Al connected with a long edge to a short edge of a first B-type panel B1 and a short edge to a long edge of a second B-type panel B2. A long edge of a new A-type panel A2 is installed with angling to a long edge of a first A-type panel Al and to a short edge of a second B-type panel B2. A short edge of the new A-type panel A2 is installed with vertical snap folding to the long edge of the first B-type panel B1.

FIG. 9 a shows an embodiment of a vertical sliding locking system that could be locked with a combined vertical and horizontal sliding along a tongue plane TP, comprising the upper contact surfaces of the tongue 33 and the tongue groove 34 and a groove plane GP, comprising the groove locking surface 12 and the locking element locking surface 11. These surfaces are in this embodiment substantially plane but they could also be curved. The tongue and the groove planes TP,GP are in such a case tangent lines to the curves. The tongue plane TP and the groove plane GP are in this embodiment parallel and have a plane angle PA of about 50 degrees to the horizontal plane HP. The strip panel 4 a will be locked to the fold panel 4 b when the fold panel is displaced vertically and horizontally along the tongue plane TP as can be seen in FIGS. 9 c and 9 d. This locking and unlocking could be obtained without any bending of the strip 6 and without any resistance. Such a locking requires however that substantially the whole edge of the fold pane could be displaced vertically over a specific vertical locking distance VLD defined by the geometry of the locking system and such that a vertical locking is obtained during the vertical displacement. It is obvious that such a vertical displacement could be made when for example when both panels are laying on the floor with the folding panel edge 4 b over the strip panel edge 4 a and when these two edges are parallel. Such a displacement is however not possible if the folding panel 4 a is in an angled position, which is substantially the displacement angle. This is the case when a vertical folding installation is used. The inner part of the short edge 20, as shown in FIG. 5 a will be locked by the long sides, as shown in FIG. 2 a, and cannot be displaced vertically along a vertical plane VP.

It is not necessary that the tongue plane TP and the groove plane GP are parallel. A groove plane GP could for example have a plane angle PA of about 70 degrees and the tongue plane TP could have a plane angle PA of for example about 60 degrees. This will increase the locking strength. A locking could be made with a small bending of the strip 6 and/or a compression of fibres or surfaces in the locking system. This locking could be made with very small locking resistance. Any other angle combination could be used but it is of course preferable that the groove plane has a higher angle than the tongue plane.

FIGS. 10 a and 10 b shows a locking system that is possible to displace vertically along a vertical displacement distance VDD in a displacement angle when the upper part of the locking element 8 is partly in the locking groove 14 and prevents horizontal displacement. Such a locking system could be designed in many different ways. This preferred embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 a. The tongue 10 is protruding horizontally from the upper edge over a considerably larger distance, for example more than 0.2 times the floor thickness, the upper tongue and groove contact surfaces 33,34 have been moved towards the outer part of the tongue 10 and are displaced inwardly and horizontally relative the lower tongue and groove contact surfaces 35,36. A large bevel 21 has been introduced in the upper lip, which extends over a vertical distance, which is about 0.5 times the distance of the protruding tongue. FIG. 10 c show a preferred embodiment where the vertical locking distance VLD of the folding panel 1′ is substantially the same as the vertical displacement distance VDD of the long side locking system in a displacement angle, as shown in FIG. 10 a. Such a combination gives a very easy vertical folding especially if the tongue and groove planes have substantially the same angle. Preferable angles are for example TP/GP=50/50, 60/60, 50/60 and 60/70 and similar combinations. All other embodiments could be used. The strip panel and the folding panel could be designed according to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 a-1 c. A long edge locking system that allows vertical displacement in a displacement angle will also improve vertical folding with a locking system comprising substantially horizontal upper tongue/groove contact surfaces 33,34.

FIG. 11 a show a second 1 and new panel 1′ with short edges 4 a,4 b having a locking system as described in FIG. 9 a. FIG. 11 c shows that such a locking system has no horizontal locking strength since it could easily slide out along the tongue plane when a pulling force PF is applied. The fold panel 4 b slides up horizontally and vertically. FIG. 11 d show that such upward motion will be prevented by the long edges 5 a and 5 b when panels in the first row R1 and the third row R3 are connected to the long sides of the second 1 and new panels 1′in the second row R2. Vertical and horizontal separation of the edges 4 a,4 b can only take place if the panels are able to move vertically and this is prevented by the locking system at the long edges (5 a,5 b). The short edges could therefore be locked very easily without any resistance and they are at the same time prevented to unlock by the locking system at the long edges that preferably should have a tight fit between the tongue and grove in order to prevent “over wood”. The invention provides a very simple and easy locking with vertical folding that could be combined with a strong locking in vertical and horizontal direction.

FIG. 12 a-12 c show that the vertical sliding locking principle could be combined with the double tongue principle. The locking system has a tongue 10, 10′ on the folding panel 4 b and on the strip panel 4 a. The tongue plane has in this embodiment a plane angle PA that is lower than the plane angle PA′ of the groove plane in order to increase the vertical locking strength. This means that some compression or bending must occur during folding, providing that the locking system has a tight fit. The double tongue principles make it possible to avoid displacement along the sharp surface edge during vertical folding. A compression of the tips of the two tongues during folding will allow an easier locking with higher strength.

It is obvious that two or more or even all of the principles described above could be combined and that all embodiments of locking systems described in this application could be used in combinations or independently to connect long and/or short edges. The figures are only used to show examples of different embodiments, which could be used in various combinations on long and short edges in a same panel type or in different panel types intended to be connected to each other. All locking systems on long and/or short edges of a panel could be formed in one piece with the core or they could comprise separate materials, for example a separate tongue and/or strip and/or locking element, which could be integrated with the floor panel or even connected during installation. Also the locking groove and/or the tongue groove could comprise separate materials. It should be especially pointed out that the invention also comprises one piece locking systems on the short edges where parts of the locking system, such as for example the tongue and/or the strip and/or the locking element, are flexible and preferably comprise a wood fibre based material, for example HDF, and which could be locked by vertical snap folding, provided that such locking systems must be displaced at least partially in a horizontal direction during the vertical snap folding. A separate wood fibre based material such as HDF or plywood could also be fixed connected by for example gluing to a panel comprising a wood or wood lamella core and it could be machined to a locking system in the same way as the one piece system described above.

Embodiments of the invention are especially useful in floor panels with a size of a parquet strip for example a panel with a length of less than about 100 cm and a width of less than about 12 cm. A limited length gives a lower friction and a limited width gives more flexible panels where a “banana shaped” long edge will cause less friction than in a wide and rigid panel. The invention is therefore also useful in long and narrow flexible panels with for example a maximum width of about 10 cm. Other useful areas are floors with a tile shape for example where the length does not exceed 3 times the width. Floors with such panel sizes of for example 30*45 cm or 30*60 cm could be made with low friction on the long edges and a high pulling force on the short edges. Chemicals such as wax, oil and similar could be applied in the long edge locking system in order to reduce friction during installation.

It is an advantage if the floorboards will not slide easily after installation. Chemicals that are applied into the locking system could be designed to facilitate displacement during installation and to cure after installation in order to prevent displacement after installation. Glue in the locking system is not excluded. Glue could be applied for example in all long edge locking systems or only in some panels for example only in the first or the last panel in each row. This will prevent displacement of a whole row against an adjacent row. Special panels with long edge locking systems having a high friction could be supplied and used for example as a first panel in each row. Mechanical devices could be supplied that are inserted in the locking system, for example in the first panel in each row or under the panel or between the wall and the first and the last panel in each row, and such mechanical devices will prevent displacement after installation. Flexible materials applied between a short edge of a panel and a wall could prevent displacement and compensate for swelling and shrinking of the panels. An underlay or a rear side of the panel with a high friction surface could also be used. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A set of essentially identical floor panels, each comprising a plastic core, each comprising long and short edges, whereby the short edges are provided with a mechanical locking system comprising first and second connectors integrated with the floor panels, wherein immediately juxtaposed upper parts of two adjacent short edges of two joined floor panels together define a vertical plane perpendicular to the main plane of the floor panels, the first connector comprises a locking strip with an upwardly directed locking element, at a first edge of a floor panel, configured to cooperate with a downwardly open locking groove at an adjacent second edge of another floor panel for connecting the adjacent edges in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical plane, the second connector comprises a tongue, at the first edge, extending in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical plane, configured to cooperate with a horizontally open tongue groove, at the second edge, for connecting the adjacent edges in vertical direction parallel to the vertical plane, configured to be locked with a vertical motion, wherein the tongue at the first edge is formed in one piece with the panel and configured to protrude from a substantially vertical upper surface at the first edge, wherein a lowermost locking surface of the tongue is substantially parallel to a locking surface of the locking groove, wherein the angle of the lowermost locking surface of the tongue and the locking surface of the locking groove against the horizontal plane is more than about 50 degrees and less than 90 degrees, and wherein the second edge is provided with a second tongue.
 2. The set of essentially identical floor panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the angle is more than about 60 degrees.
 3. The set of essentially identical floor panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein each floor panel comprises a plastic surface material.
 4. The set of essentially identical floor panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein each floor panel comprises a balancing layer.
 5. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tongue at the first edge protrudes outside the vertical upper surface during the whole vertical motion of locking.
 6. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panels have a thickness and wherein the tongue at the first edge protrudes at least 0.1 time the floor panel thickness from the vertical plane.
 7. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking element has an guiding surface at an upper part and a locking surface below and adjacent to the guiding surface, wherein the locking groove has a guiding surface on the lower part under and adjacent to a locking surface, wherein the locking surfaces are configured to cooperate to prevent separation of the panels in the horizontal direction and the guiding surfaces are configured to cooperate to guide the locking element into the locking groove during the vertical motion of locking.
 8. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanical locking system is configured to be locked with vertical snap folding.
 9. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 8, wherein the tongue at the first edge protrudes outside the vertical upper surface during the whole vertical snap folding.
 10. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 8, wherein the locking element has an guiding surface at an upper part and a locking surface below and adjacent to the guiding surface, wherein the locking groove has a guiding surface on the lower part under and adjacent to a locking surface, wherein the locking surfaces are configured to cooperate to prevent separation of the panels in the horizontal direction and the guiding surfaces are configured to cooperate to guide the locking element into the locking groove during the vertical snap folding.
 11. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tongue at the first edge is compressed by a portion of the second edge of the another floor panel during the vertical motion. 